Method and system for timing media stream modifications

摘要

A system and method for triggering media stream modifications and for modifying media streams accordingly. The method includes a first step of determining, by an apparatus, an opportunity to modify a compressed media stream, by a media stream modifier, to provide a modified media stream that includes additional video content; and a second step of generating modification information representative of said determination, to be further transmitted to the media stream modifier.

主权项

1. A method for triggering a modification of a compressed media stream comprising multiple media stream portions, the method comprising the steps of:
determining, by an apparatus, an opportunity to modify at least one media stream portion of the compressed media stream by a media stream modifier included within a distribution system that provides content to multiple clients over at least one network, the opportunity to modify comprising an opportunity to provide a modified media stream that includes additional video content that is independent of the compressed media stream prior to modifying the media stream, the media stream modifier being independent of the apparatus; wherein the apparatus and the media stream modifier belong to a same tier of the distribution system; wherein the determining comprises determining a timing of a modification of the compressed media stream based on a set of parameters comprising at least one of: an identity of the clients connected to the media stream modifier, viewing patterns of clients, timing of advertisements, content of advertisements, or content of the compressed media stream; generating, by the apparatus, modification information representative of said determination, to be further transmitted to the media stream modifier, the modification information comprising rules for what modifications are permissible for the compressed media stream; modifying, by the media stream modifier, at least one media stream portion of the compressed media stream to provide the modified media stream, wherein the step of modifying comprises modifying content within a subset of macroblocks included within a frame from a plurality of frames comprising a group of pictures to include the additional content without splicing the additional content into the at least one media stream portion, wherein the subset of macroblocks comprises fewer than a number of macroblocks included in the frame; and transmitting to the apparatus, by the media stream modifier, the modified media stream.